Happy Christmas!

We have had five fantastic Christmas celebration in Svalbard. Two years we have been in the town, one year in Svea and twice had a cosy Christmas in a cabin. This year we decided to do something totally different. We took a little bag and our dog with us and flew to Tromsø. We got a change to borrow our friends house in Kvaløya - thanks for her! Here we have couple of hours twilight in the middle of the day and Christmas peace over us. And that's about everything we need for a Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas for all of you!

Chrismas is arriving also in Svea

Christmas has arrived even in Svea. Christmas decorations and good Christmas meals are giving a sense of occasion, even though people working as normally. A coal town is busy even in these holidays. We left Svea before Christmas but many are celebrating in Svea while they working.

Evening with Ginger breads

Even though all Norway included Svalbard has been suffering for butter shortage we had our yearly Ginger bread baking evening for girls. Luckily people in Svalbard are used to squirrel away amazing things in their freezers - included butter. 1,5 kg fat, 2 kg sugar, 5 kg flour, 1 dl spices and little cognac became a delicious dough with Swedish Ginger bread recipe. Recipe is Swedish because tradition were started by a partly Swedish girl. And tradition is still going on even though the first Ginger bread bakers have been moving away from Svalbard.

A total moon eclipse

We were lucky to see a total moon eclipse again. Last year it was in an early morning and then it was freezing cold and good breeze. This year we were lucky. The total eclipse was a Saturday afternoon and even it was quite cold it was actually totally ok because there weren't any wind. We had a little skiing trip in Andventdalen, just to go little bit out of the town lights. There were unbelievable amount of cars on Adventdalen way! Lot of people had taken a trip with a car to take pictures of the reddish moon.

Sinisalo dress on use again

I just couldn't keep my fingers out of the scooter any more. It was full moon couple of weeks ago and just couple of minus degrees in Celcius. I found quickly my scooter dress, helmet and other scooter equipment. I had a check on the engine room and then it was time to start to scooter.  It was really nice to take a direction into Adventdalen and just see mountains bathing on the shimmering moon light. I was happy to have my powerful friend on use again.

Light in darkness

In Longyearbyen darkness isn't feeling that dark because I know what there is in darkness, I know what I could see. In Svea I'm not that known with surrounding around Svea and somehow darkness is feeling more dark here. Strange...

But even we're getting some light in darkness before Christmas. There is some Christmas lights installed around the ports and on buildings and some candles are giving cosy light on the breaks. We can't lose the feeling of coming Christmas even though we're working far a way from home.

Google is celebrating

Suddenly Google was having summerly celebration. Congratulations Finland!

November is over

We were getting almost every kind of weather in November. We got rainy days with some plus degrees in Celcius. Everything was slippery and that with high wind caused some cancellations on the airplane traffic. Some people got a creepy experience when SAS-flight ended up crosswise on the airstrip after landing. But we had also really nice days with temperature around -20 degrees Celcius. On those kind of beautiful days it's still possible to see a shimmer of the sun over Sukkertoppen and behind the glaciers.

We have already a good amount of snow. Some people have started their scooters and every time I hear a sound of a scooter my fingers start to itch. But we're waiting still a bit before we start our scooters.

This year advent was really early, already in the end of November. Suddenly we got a Christmas feeling over the town. It's really nice to be walking on the main road and to see all Christmas stars and other kind of lights on the windows. It's always nice to get some light on the darkness.

Svea in darkness

When I was last time in Svea it was still time of midnight sun. Now the sun isn't rising at all. Even though we got a beautiful flight over to Svea. Mountains were glowing magically in the light of the half moon and van Mijdenfjorden was mystic black.

I got now a couple of month's contract in Svea. I was really happy to say "Yes, certainly" when I was asked if I would like to work little bit more there.

Moon over the town

Full moon is actually already just a memory, but it's always so impressing. We got also really nicely Jupiter close to it - even more impressing!

Our tour season isn't that exciting at the moment because of the dogs on leash -rule. Now instead of tours we need to be concentrating on other kind of activities. My dog isn't that good with pulling, but I borrowed a bitch and we were skiing together. He doesn't see the point to pull a skier but he's more than eager to follow a bitch. My friend is having some polar dogs and we have tried our herding dog front of a sledge. He's not the best puller, but at least he gets some exercise - and social activity with other dogs. That's also very important! And to being out with a dog sledge is really fun!

Dark season has started

k

The sun doesn’t rise over the horizon, but we still have some hours twilight at midday. But the amount of light is decreasing quickly. The dark time isn’t usually disturbing me too much. The darkness in the town feels depressing, but when we go out outside the town darkness isn’t actually that bad. When we go out we don’t usually have headlights on and then our eyes get surprisingly well adapted for darkness. Darkness isn’t that thight when you’re in it. When you’re in the town under the street lights darkness around you feels unwelcoming. Mountains around you are dark, sky is far away and shadows are unpleasant. But when you’re out of the town, out of the light pollution, darkness isn’t anyhow unwelcoming. The mountains are glowing slightly, sky is bright with millions of stars, sometimes coloured with northern lights, sometimes decorated with shooting stars. Darkness isn’t anything unpleasant around you, it’s just something which is surrounding you.

During this dark season dogs can’t be running free because of outspread of Rabies. Now I can’t go out with my dog as usually but I need to find some other hobby with him, the hobby he can think is fun even though he can’t be running or playing with other dogs. I know that in principle I’m not stuck in the town and under the street lights, but I'm feeling really sorry that my dog who is used for lot of activity and motion can’t be running for who know how long time. So, we're waiting here there is coming enough snow that we could go and use some energy with skiing.

Damned Rabies

Vi have Rabies in Svalbard and because of that all the dogs need to Rabies-vaccinated every year. That’s just a rutine and you don’t think more that. But now Rabies really came part of our everyday life.

In Svalbard all the polar dogs need to be on leash always, but dogs on other races can be free otherwise except in the period from 15. of May until 15. of August. But, the dogs which can be kept free need to be under the control, not disturbing people or animals. There isn’t any excuses for a dog to chase reindeer or ptarmigan or disturb dog sledges or skiers. The owner who lets his dog to run free is responsible to keep eye on his dog.

A polar fox with Rabies bit one person in the town and after that there has been found some polar foxes and reindeer infected by Rabies. To avoid disease to spread to dogs and people all the dogs need to be hold on leash now.

In last three years time I have spend houndred of hours on the mountains with my dog. That has been the point for me to have a dog: To go out with it and enjoy the fantastic surrounding we’re having here. My dog just loves to run around. He can just run around and around in circels without any visible reason. To have speed is fun, running itself is fun. But that’s now illegal, he can’t be running anywhere, he need to be kept on leash. By following rules strickly he can’t even play properly with other dogs, because that’s pretty fustrating if you need to keep your dog all the time on leash. He also loves swimming, but even that’s impossible if he need to be on leash (of course he can’t swim now in winter, but there is coming spring again). We don’t have any place here to leave dogs on other races than polar dogs legally to run free and play together.

It’s not only my dog who need to kept on leash over next winter - it’s also me who can’t be running free on tundra and enjoying playing dogs.

Travelling with a dog

When you’re travelling with a dog, you have to be always prepared to get some troubles because of the restrictions having a dog with. We just had a holiday with our four legged companion and I’m really impressed how fine everything went. He’s been travelling with airplanes (longest journey around 11 hours and four landings), taxis, privat cars, vans (on those vehicles in every possible way; in his cage, beside the luggages, sitting by feet, where ever there has been a place to squeeze in), full packed local trains, express trains, busses and different ferries. He has been meeting different people, all kind of dogs, sleeping in strange places, having even a weekend in a spa. I’m really happy to have a dog who is so easy to have with everywhere - as long as it’s accepted by the other people.

Fossil hunt

Up on the Longyearbreen moraine it's easy to find some 40-60 million years old plant fossils. They are pretty impressive!

He's not anyhow interested in fossils, but he's ready to follow us for anywhere - even though he doesn't understand what's fun with stones.

When the rucksacks were full of stones, it was time to go home.

Harvest

It was fun to have a little garden on my living room. I can't say that the harvest became any special huge, but anyhow, it was nice to eat some handful of own tomatoes or spice food with herbs from own garden. I managed to make some dinners (for one) from own harvest - just added with an egg and so. That's mostly thanks for male pumpkin flowers; I was having plenty of them. They are tasty and beautiful to look at, so no any complains.

I got two small pumpkins (250-400 g) and one which didn't grow properly. Even though harvest might not look that impressive, I just needed to have a harvest fest for them. The pumpkins ended up in the oven with a piece of reindeer my friend shot last autumn. Anyhow, that was at least a good excuse to ask friends for dinner! So, now all reindeer is eaten and garden is harvested. And I'm already waiting for a new season!

Dancing in the clouds

Autumn is sneaking in... We are having pretty often foggy days in autumn time, but that's not actually giving any reason to stay inside. Then you just need to find an area which isn't on fog.

Sometimes it can be actually little bit cool to be walking on clouds. Everything looks somehow mystic.

But also, in autumn there are also those windless days which are so nice. Even it's getting already little bit cooler, it's feeling just ok when there isn't wind.

I guess all the parents are used to stop with children on playing grounds, swings and so on. If you're owning a dog, then you just need to make some trips to places where you can find snow. That's fun!

Autumn in Svea

Drift has started again in the mine after a pause over the summer and Svea is busy again. But our time is starting to be soon over - there is only one week left for us after this week. It will be sad to say "good bye" to Svea.

This week has been pretty cloudy, but even overcast can be beautiful. We had our weekly trip up to Varden, even though clouds were hanging on the mountain sides. But the trip was nice, and up on the Varden we were almost over the clouds. Fog gave a new touch for our little tour.

Time of the midnight sun is over

The sun hasn't set since 19th of April. It went under the horizon first time 22th of August. Then I was in Trondheim - and there it was dark at night time! I haven't actually been missing that... It's not getting yet dark here at nights, that we need to still wait couple of weeks.

One thing we're lacking here in summer time is moon. We get always a new moon over the horizon in summer time, but full moon isn't rising. To see the moon again at the sky gives me feeling of autumn. There isn't any doubt more that the summer is behind.

Trondheim

Trondheim is one of the biggest cities in Norway with its about 174 000 people. It's a beautiful city! Regardless of that we spend our time little bit out of the town. I'm not actually missing towns but really enjoyed my time in a summer cabin.

I needed to leave my dog in Longyearbyen, but I got company of "real" polar dogs. The puddle has grown up in Longyearbyen and was the one of the best mates for my dog. Now he's living in the mainland but the German shepherd is a faithful tour companion.

One of the best thing about living in the mainland is all the berries which can be picked from the forest. I guess my friend got tired of me harvesting rasberries...

Warm winds

Suddenly we got a reminder of summer. In the middle of August we got the warmest day for all summer. Temperature got all the way up to 17 decrees Celcius. It was really strange to feel warm wind on the face. I was just sitting on our veranda and enjoying the real summer. In summertime all the town was feeling so quiet, when almost all the children were on a summer holiday in the mainland. Now most of them were back and it was cosy to listen sounds of the playing kids. Our dog was following them carefully from his cable reel.

Predators around

We were planning to make our weekly walk to Varden. Before we started to walk we decided to drive and have a look if our polar bear were staying on where he used to be. But he was gone. We heard he had disappeared earlier on the morning and haven't been seen since. Mhhh... Trip to Varden isn't that long, so we left anyway. But even the walk is pretty short, we had a signal pistol and weapon with us... just in case...

On the way down we met a smaller predator. He was just curious and very hopeful if we had some food with us. But he didn't get anything from us.

Lazy days in Svea

Not any lazy days for me, but the big boy seems to have good time. He has been laying on the mountain side for a week now. It looks like he's not having any hurry for anywhere, so why he should be then moving himself. His food doesn't look any meaty but I hope he's having it enough that he doesn't decide to sneak in the settlement and get some fresh supply.

We got a little reminder that autumn is getting closer when mountains got a thin layer of snow on the tops. Picture is taken in Svea Nord. You can see the tunnel openings to the coal mine.

It's getting autumn

For me the midnight sun is one of the most natural thing: That's how it should be in the life - always sunlight. But it's getting to be autumn, I just have to admit it even I wouldn't like to. Light is changing somehow colour and intensity is much lower, specially at night time.

It start to be autumn also for my garden. I'll be now about three weeks away from home, just popping by there once in a while. First one week in Svea, then a week in Trondheim and going back to Svea for a week after that. And then it's already early September and definitely autumn.

Autumn also means that's it's time to start to put my garden down. All salad is already eaten, also almost other herbs as well, except parsley which growing like a weed. Tomatoes and pumpkin are allowed to continue to grow still for a while.

The first pumpkin is growing steadily. I'm already dreaming about dinner, having it together with tasty Svalbard reindeer.

Another small pumpkin, growing also promisingly.

I have got couple of handful with cherry tomatoes. There is still lot of flowers and some green tomatoes, but I'm not sure if they manage to ripe before autumn.

One afternoons harvest. Tasting better than sweeties!

My beans were not growing that successfully. Next year I would like to try some peas instead.

Black eyed Susan has been flowering since early June. Maybe I should have next year some more flowering plants instead of eatable ones. My small garden isn't giving that much to food, so flowering plants might give the same amount of pleasure as the pumpkin leaves.

Sixth week in Svea

Summer has got incredibly quickly. Weeks in Svea are just passing by.

We go still every week to Varden. Until now we have been lucky with weather, even though some days have had a total overcast.

Svea is pretty quiet as many people are now on summer holiday. But at the harbour season is on it's top: Green Frost delivering cargo, Nord Tradition on the way off from the quay full lasted with coal, Nord Venture on the way in to get coal.

On the way home over van Mijdenfjorden: The third coal boat is waiting it's turn to get to the quay. Akseløya middle of the picture, making a barrier between van Mijdenfjorden and Greenland sea.

Polar bear attack

Unfortunately not all the meetings with polar bear go fine, but usually those situation ends up with a dead polar bear.

One British boy lost his life and four other campers got injured on a polar bear attack. That happened by von Postbreen, about 40 km from the town. Injured were taken to the hospital by a helicopter. Usually helicopter is landing on the airport, wherefrom an injured one is taken to the hospital by an ambulance, but this time the helicopter landed directly by the hospital. It looked like they didn't want to loose any time.

The flag is at half-mast because of the funeral of Johannes.

Good morning, Svea!

To be honest, I'm not yet totally woken when we're driving little bit before 7 am to work. But one morning I woke up quickly, when we saw a white fellow coming towards us and the town.

We got another exciting experiment when we found a nice spider on a container. Can't believe that big guy is living permanently in Svalbard! He must have got an involuntary lift from the mainland up here with a boat. I can't really say that lucky guy...

Condolences also from Svea

We're sorry for them who got somehow involved with 22/7.

White on the fjord

The fjord got filled with drift ice.

On the other side of the fjord in Hiorthamn had a polar bear good time. It looked like he was eating a bloody dinner.

"Topptrimmen"

There wouldn't needed to be an excuse for to go to a trip, but Topptrimmen is actually giving a nice one. There is placed 12 boxes on mountains around Longyearbyen with a book inside, where you can write your name on. When you have visited ten tops, you can participate a lottery and win a tour to Ny-Ålesund. That is an attractive price, but the tops are nice to visit even without any price. We need to take the dogs out anyhow for a walk, so Topptrimmen is just then giving a goal for us to go.

Hope for Halloween?

As the maximum weight was said to be around 800 grams, I guess it won't be a impressive Halloween decoration.

Production of male-flowers is good, even though I would like to have more females. For addition for small amount of female-flowers I have been unsuccessful with pollination and therefore lost the change. But there is anyhow some gain for growing: Males are tasting specially good fried with cheese and blue cheese filling.

Got to taste first handful of cherry tomatoes!